Kentucky Universities Can Start Construction Immediately As Projects Bill Signed Into Law

Six Kentucky's public universities can immediately start construction on more than $300 million in construction or renovation projects, including a $110-million renovation of Lexington's Commonwealth Stadium.

Governor Steve Beshear signed House Bill 7 into law on Thursday.

The bill authorizes bonds and other funds to help build academic buildings, dorms and other necessities at the universities. It assures no public money will be used for the projects.

WKU will receive authorization for $22 million in bonds for a new Honors College and international center.

Senate President Robert Stivers says the cooperation on the bill shows how the legislature should work.

"And so with that, I just want to thank the governor for his leadership, the university presidents for their leadership and the cooperation and leadership from Rep.Rand and Speaker Stumbo because this is how the process should work," he said.

The University of Kentucky has the most projects in the bill. House Speaker Greg Stumbo said the best part is the fact UK Athletics will use its money to help build an academic building on its campus.

"But bringing forth a new innovation plan, for the first time ever athletic monies will be used to build academic facilities," Stumbo says.

The bill was the first to pass and be signed into law this legislative session.

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Kentucky military personnel could get their election ballots electronically—but the ballots would have to be printed and returned to county clerks via snail mail, under changes made to a bill Thursday in a state Senate committee meeting.

The bill—a priority for Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes—originally called for military personnel to be able to get and return ballots electronically.

Senate President Robert Stivers, the bill's sponsor, said concerns for the security of completed ballots returned electronically led him to amend it.

The bill, as amended, advanced Thursday through the Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection committee to the senate floor.

Seeking the passage of three pieces of legislation protecting against discrimination based on sexual orientation, more than 200 people rallied on Wednesday in the Capitol Rotunda with Kentucky's Fairness Campaign.

Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, a Democrat of Louisville, is sponsoring a bill that would prevent employers from discriminating against employees based on sexual orientation. The bill, along with Senate Bill 28, would also make it illegal for landlords and real estate agents to discriminate on those grounds.

"I think the realistic hope is that we might get the first ever hearing on the anti-discrimination fairness law in House Judiciary this year," Fairness Campaign director Chris Hartman said. "That's really what we're gunning for. Even if it's an informational only hearing it would be the first time they've ever discussed the bill on the record."